West Michigan Family Stores/Grand Rapids ARC

How Your Purchases At Our Stores Help Others

The Salvation Army is well-known for our family stores, which offer gently-used items at a fraction of their original cost...

The Salvation Army is well-known for our family stores, which offer gently-used items at a fraction of their original cost. While most can say why they shop at our stores – often referencing the low prices of our inventory – we are often asked how we use the money made from purchases.

In a nutshell, purchases made at our stores provide others with an opportunity to improve their lives, but there is so much more to it than that.

Healing broken lives

In the West Michigan area, materials that are donated by community members are collected and sorted before being distributed to our eight family stores. Once an item is sold, the income from that sale will go to support the adult rehabilitation center located in Grand Rapids.

The Salvation Army Grand Rapids Adult Rehabilitation Center aims to help men and women break free of their addictions to drugs and alcohol. The rehabilitation process is intensive and requires all participants to commit to a six-month term or longer. Through this program, men and women are given the opportunity to regain their self-respect and acquire the life skills needed to take their place in society. During their six-month stay, participants gain these skills by performing volunteer “work therapy” for 40 hours per week, mostly distributing clothes, furniture and other donation made to The Salvation Army. At night, the men receive education, counseling and spiritual support as they make their journey towards a more fulfilling life.

The sales from our Family Stores play a crucial role in the success of this program as we receive no government, city or United Way funds to cover program costs. In total, we have the capacity to serve 115 people. 105 men and 10 women who will find the support and stability they need to turn their life around.

Meeting basic needs

In West Michigan and Northern Indiana, we serve as basic needs programs to the local communities. Even better, Salvation Army Stores help support those in times of need and help people who go from homelessness to a new home. Through our voucher program, individuals and families can get new clothing, household goods and furniture – all at no cost to them.